Joint



April 12, 1932. w. A. FLUMERQFELT:

JOINT Filed April 26 1930 a ZZZ/I46, 6 7 z W2 1 lig r fumerfmf t.

TORNEYS.

WILLIAM A. FL'IJ'ME BFELT, 01' CO m ment occurs due to wear to t iii 29 yp y Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE;

Application and April no, mo. Serial n. 447,514.

qonmmus euro This invention relates to joints particularly of the ball and socket type.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an automatically ad ustable ball and socket joint construction particularly useful. for the steering rod and tie bar connections of an automobile, to provide a construetlonin which the axial center of the ball and shank member will not be displaced when ad ustin the parts, and to- .provide a construction of simple character which is strong and durable and easily assembled. i

An illustrative embodiment of time Invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical medlal each other asshown at 15 and 16 the drawings.

The inner faces are provided wi in Fig. 2 of of the members 13 and 14 th concave sockets, concen-' trically formed with respect to their outer. sides and to the housingenclosing the members, said socket faces being formed on a uniform radius to snugly embrace an inner ball member.

A plurality of spherical segments 17, 18, 19 w and 20 are fitted in the sockets of the members 13 and 14 and disposeduniformly about the four sides of an inner frusto-pyramidal wedge member 21 which has an integrally" formed shank 22 extending through the flanged opening 12. The wedge member 21 is tapered upwardly-toward its shank 22 and section and partly in elevation of a construcbears against the plane-faces of the spherical ng my improved invention. segment members 17, 18, 19 and 20 so that Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken said segment members with the wedge memon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the d1- ber form a substantially spherical ball. rection indicated by the arrows. cans are provided for moving the segment Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the socket members 17 18, 19 and20 outwardly against members used in this construction. the socket members 13 and 14 and comprises Fig. 4 is a face view of the same looking in a helical compression spring 23 interposed the direction indicated by the arrow shown between and bearing against the lower end. in Fig. 3. 24 of the wedge 21 and the upper or inner face Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one of the of a closure plate 25 retained in the opening spherical segments used in my construct on. by. a spun1n or crimped flange 26. The

ig. 6 is a view in elevation of the inner spr ng 22 constantly urges the wedge upwardwedge member which formsthe body of the ly in an axial direction toward the flanged ball-portion of this improved iojnt. opemng of the housing.

In the construction shownin the drawings, In the operation of this an outer housing member 7 of substantially the parts are assembled a cylindrical form is provided with a radially and 2 of the drawings wit extending hollow shank 8 integrally formed der compression. As we thereon which is interiorly threaded at 9 curs, the wedge 21 tra to receive a tie-rod or the like. The housing axial direction and. du 7 has an opening 10 of uniform diameter exsurfaces moves the spherical segment memtending therethrough with the axis thereof bers 17, 18, 19 and 20 outwardly against the perpendicular to the axis of the shank 8. inner walls of the opening 10 and against The upper end of the housing 7 is provided the 'inturned flange 11. v with an inturned flange 11 which forms an Constant automatic adjustmenttocompenannular opening 12 of smaller diameter than sate for wear in the parts is thus secured. As 95 the opening 10 in the housing 7 the movement of thewedge' member'21 is in A ,pair of substantially: semi an axial direction and the segment members members 13 and 14 are fitted are disposed on all four sides thereof, the axis opening 10 in abutting relations of the wedge 21 and shank 22 will not be disthe flange 11. and in spaced rel placed with respect to the housing 7,.but will joint construction, s shown .in Figs. 1 h the spring 23 unar in the parts ocvels upwardly in an e to its tapered outer -cylindrical within, the hip against ationship to remain min with the opening 10 in said housing.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be a1- tered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined y'the following claim.

am: y

A ball and socket joint construction comprising an outer housing member having an openin therethrough, an inturned flange at one en of said open ng, a pair of socket members fitted in said opening in abutting relation a ainst said flange, an inner wedge member o I frusto-pyramidal shape positioned within said socket members, herical segment members embraced by sai socket members with their plane faces bearing against the sides of said wedge member, and spring means for urging said wedge member toward the flange boun opening or spreading the segment members outwardly against the socketmembers.

WILLIAM A. FLUMEBFELT. 

